Outboard Motor and Seal for Outboard Motor

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application corresponds to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-198393 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Nov. 22, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to outboard motors and seals for outboard motors.

2. Description of the Related Art

An engine serving as a power source is built into an outboard motor attached to a hull. A heat exhaust opening through which heat of the engine is discharged, an air intake opening through which intake air of the engine is inhaled, etc., are formed in a cover of the outboard motor. For example, in an outboard motor disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-137787, a sealing material is interposed between a passage formation portion formed at a ceiling wall that is a part of an engine cover and an entrance duct molded integrally with an upper case that is a constituent of an intake air silencer. A space between the passage formation portion and the entrance duct is sealed with the sealing material.

This sealing material is made of an elastic material having rubbery properties, and includes a fixed portion that is fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the entrance duct and a lip that is in close contact with a peripheral edge portion of the passage formation portion. The fixed portion has a plate shape that annularly extends along the peripheral edge portion of the entrance duct. The lip protrudes upwardly from a surface on the passage formation portion side of the fixed portion, and annularly extends in the same way as the fixed portion, and is curved such as to be placed at a more outward position in the radial direction in proportion to a rise in the upward direction.

In an outboard motor, an engine cover is arranged such as to be detachable from an outboard motor main body in order to perform maintenance for an engine or the like. In the outboard motor disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-137787, the engine cover is arranged such as to be moved in the up-down direction with respect to the outboard motor main body when the engine cover is detached. In other words, when the engine cover is attached to the outboard motor main body, the engine cover is placed above the outboard motor main body, and then is downwardly moved, and, as a result, the engine cover presses the lip from above the lip. At this time, the lip of the sealing material upwardly protrudes, and has a correspondence relationship with the moving direction of the engine cover, and therefore it is possible to naturally press the lip from above, and it is conceivable that the turn-up, etc., of the lip does not occur.

However, in recent years, there has been a desire to form an opening portion through which heat exhaust or air intake is performed in an inclined surface, for the structure, the design, or the like of the outboard motor. In such a case, a sealing material that is fixed to the peripheral edge portion of the opening portion is also placed in an inclined state, and, as a result, the protruding direction of the lip is also faced in an inclined direction. In this state, if the engine cover is downwardly moved when the engine cover is attached, a back surface of the engine cover will push the lip obliquely downwardly because there is no correspondence relationship between the protruding direction of the lip and the moving direction of the engine cover. At this time, a friction force generated between the lip and the back surface of the engine cover is large because the lip is made of an elastic material having rubbery properties. Therefore, there is a concern that the lip will cause disadvantageous deformation, such as the turn-up of the lip, and sealability will be lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention provide outboard motors that are capable of obtaining high sealability by preventing disadvantageous deformation of a seal.

An example embodiment of the present invention provides an outboard motor including a shroud to cover an engine, a cowl to cover the shroud from above, and a seal. The shroud includes a shroud inclined surface having a rectangular shroud opening and inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. The cowl includes a cowl inclined surface having a rectangular cowl opening, inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and facing the shroud inclined surface. The seal seals a space between a peripheral edge of the shroud opening and a peripheral edge of the cowl opening.

The seal includes a base plate to be fixed to the peripheral edge of the shroud opening and having a rectangular annular shape including a diagonal center line and a rectangular annular seal lip extending from the base plate and located around the diagonal center line. The base plate includes a first attachment plate, a second attachment plate, a third attachment plate, and a fourth attachment plate that are rectangularly arranged. The first attachment plate is located at a higher position than the third attachment plate when seen from a left-right direction. The rectangular annular seal lip elastically contacts with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The rectangular annular seal lip includes a hollow first seal lip, a second seal lip, a third seal lip, and a fourth seal lip.

The first seal lip includes a first lip portion, a second lip portion, and a hollow portion between the first lip portion and the second lip portion. The first lip portion includes a first base end connected to the first attachment plate and a first front end. The second lip portion includes a second base end and a second front end, the second base end being closer to the diagonal center line than the first lip portion and being supported by the peripheral edge of the shroud opening, the second front end being connected to the first front end of the first lip portion. The first lip portion further includes a surface contact region that extends to the first front end from a halfway portion between the first base end and the first front end and that elastically contacts with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The first lip portion and the second lip portion have a chevron shape in cross-section inclined in mutually opposite directions.

The second seal lip includes a base end connected to the second attachment plate and a front end that elastically contacts with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The third seal lip includes a base end connected to the third attachment plate and a front end that elastically contacts the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The fourth seal lip includes a base end connected to the fourth attachment plate and a front end that elastically contacts the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. Each of the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip extends away from the diagonal center line with increasing distance toward the front end of each corresponding seal lip from the base end of each corresponding seal lip.

With this arrangement, let it be supposed that, when the cowl is attached from above in a state in which the base plate of the seal has been fixed to the peripheral edge of the shroud opening, the cowl inclined surface descends while being first brought into contact with the first seal lip slidably in a direction approaching the diagonal center line among the rectangular annular seal lips. In this case, the first lip portion of the first seal lip is bent and deformed in a state of being supported by the second lip portion. A portion, which extends to the first front end from a halfway portion between the first front end and the first base end, of the first lip portion defines a surface contact region that elastically comes into surface contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or prevent conventional disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high sealability.

Additionally, each of the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip extend away from the diagonal center line with increasing distance toward the front end of each corresponding seal lip from the base end of each corresponding seal lip. When the cowl is attached, the cowl inclined surface that has passed by the first seal lip is slidably brought into contact with the second seal lip and the fourth seal lip, and is then moved such as to slidably come into contact with the third seal lip. At this time, the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip are bent and deformed so as to extend away from the diagonal center line. In other words, conventional disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur in the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high sealability.

In an example embodiment, the second base end of the second lip portion of the first seal lip orthogonally presses in contact with the shroud inclined surface. The shroud inclined surface includes a step by which the second base end of the second lip portion is locked. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the effect of allowing the second lip portion to support the first lip portion. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an excellent surface-contact state of the surface contact region of the first lip portion, and is possible to further increase sealability.

In an example embodiment, the surface contact region of the first lip portion of the first seal lip, the front end of the second seal lip, the front end of the third seal lip, and the front end of the fourth seal lip are located on a same plane provided by the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. This arrangement enables the upper-side seal lip, the left-side seal lip, the lower-side seal lip, and the right-side seal lip to closely adhere to the peripheral edge of the cowl opening without gaps, thus enabling these lips to increase sealability.

In an example embodiment, the first attachment plate includes a mold removal hole in communication with the hollow portion of the first seal lip. The second base end of the second lip portion of the first seal lip is separate from the first attachment plate through the mold removal hole. This arrangement makes it possible to easily perform die cutting through the mold removal hole when the hollow first seal lip is molded.

In an example embodiment, the first attachment plate is located at a more rearward position and at a more upward position than the third attachment plate when seen from the left-right direction. The seal includes an upper side portion including an upper-side attachment plate as the first attachment plate and an upper-side seal lip as the first seal lip. Additionally, the seal includes a left side portion including a left-side attachment plate as the second attachment plate and a left-side seal lip as the second seal lip. Additionally, the seal includes a lower side portion including a lower-side attachment plate as the third attachment plate and a lower-side seal lip as the third seal lip. Additionally, the seal includes a right side portion including a right-side attachment plate as the fourth attachment plate and a right-side seal lip as the fourth seal lip. The upper side portion is located at a rearwardly and obliquely upward position with respect to the lower side portion.

The peripheral edge of the shroud opening includes an upper attachment surface, a left attachment surface, a lower attachment surface, and a right attachment surface. The upper-side attachment plate, the left-side attachment plate, the lower-side attachment plate, and the right-side attachment plate are attached to the upper attachment surface, the left attachment surface, the lower attachment surface, and the right attachment surface of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening, respectively.

This arrangement enables the upper-side seal lip formed by the hollow first seal lip to reduce or prevent conventional disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up when the cowl is attached. Additionally, the left-side seal lip, the lower-side seal lip, and the right-side seal lip that are respectively formed by the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip are bent and deformed to move away from the diagonal center line. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high sealability.

In an example embodiment, the shroud includes a lock surface to intersect the upper attachment surface. The seal includes a lock portion that protrudes from the upper-side attachment plate and is locked with a surface of the shroud.

This arrangement makes it possible to reduce or prevent the positional deviation of the first base end of the first lip portion of the first seal lip when the cowl is attached. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an excellent surface-contact state of the surface contact region of the first lip portion, and is possible to increase sealability.

In an example embodiment, the upper-side attachment plate, the left-side attachment plate, the lower-side attachment plate, and the right-side attachment plate are located on a same plane provided by the upper attachment surface, the left attachment surface, the lower attachment surface, and the right attachment surface of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening.

This arrangement enables the upper attachment surface, the left attachment surface, the lower attachment surface, and the right attachment surface of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening to closely adhere to the upper-side attachment plate, the left-side attachment plate, the lower-side attachment plate, and the right-side attachment plate of the base plate of the seal, respectively, without gaps, thus enabling these surfaces and plates to increase sealability.

In an example embodiment, the seal further includes an upper-left corner portion between the upper side portion and the left side portion, an upper-right corner portion between the upper side portion and the right side portion, a lower-left corner portion between the lower side portion and the left side portion, and a lower-right corner portion between the lower side portion and the right side portion. The upper side portion, the upper-left corner portion, the left side portion, the lower-left corner portion, the lower side portion, the lower-right corner portion, the right side portion, and the upper-right corner portion are consecutively arranged in order, and as a result, the seal has a rectangular annular shape.

In this case, it is possible to consecutively arrange the upper side portion, the upper-left corner portion, the left side portion, the lower-left corner portion, the lower side portion, the lower-right corner portion, the right side portion, and the upper-right corner portion in order so as to have a rectangular annular shape.

In an example embodiment, the rectangular annular seal lip further includes an upper-left seal lip between the upper-side seal lip and the left-side seal lip, an upper-right seal lip between the upper-side seal lip and the right-side seal lip, a lower-left seal lip between the lower-side seal lip and the left-side seal lip, and a lower-right seal lip between the lower-side seal lip and the right-side seal lip. The base plate further includes an upper-left attachment plate between the upper-side attachment plate and the left-side attachment plate, an upper-right attachment plate between the upper-side attachment plate and the right-side attachment plate, a lower-left attachment plate between the lower-side attachment plate and the left-side attachment plate, and a lower-right attachment plate between the lower-side attachment plate and the right-side attachment plate. The upper-left seal lip, the upper-right seal lip, the lower-left seal lip, and the lower-right seal lip are elastically contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening.

The upper-left seal lip includes a base end and a front end, the base end being located on the upper-left attachment plate and having an r shape. The upper-right seal lip includes a base end and a front end, the base end being located on the upper-right attachment plate and having an r shape. The lower-left seal lip includes a base end and a front end, the base end being located on the lower-left attachment plate and having an r shape. The lower-right seal lip includes a base end and a front end, the base end being located on the lower-right attachment plate and having an r shape. Each of the upper-left seal lip, the upper-right seal lip, the lower-left seal lip and the lower-right seal lip has a shape moving away from the diagonal center line with increasing distance toward the front end of each corresponding lip from the base end of each corresponding lip. The front end of the lower-left seal lip and the front end of the lower-right seal lip each include an r shape that is concentric with the r shape of the base end of each corresponding lip.

With this arrangement, the upper-left seal lip, the left-side seal lip, the lower-left seal lip, the lower-side seal lip, the lower-right seal lip, the right-side seal lip, and the upper-right seal lip are each bent and deformed in the direction away from the diagonal center line. In other words, conventional disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur in the upper-left seal lip, the left-side seal lip, the lower-left seal lip, the lower-side seal lip, the lower-right seal lip, the right-side seal lip, and the upper-right seal lip. Particularly, the front end of the lower-left seal lip and the front end of the lower-right seal lip include r shapes that are concentric with the r shapes of the base ends corresponding to the front ends, respectively, thus enabling the lower-left seal lip and the lower-right seal lip to be excellently deformed.

In an example embodiment, the seal includes an upper-left lid portion to seal an inside of a triangle whose three sides are a left end of the first lip portion of the first seal lip, a rear end of the upper-left seal lip, and a right end of the upper-left attachment plate. The seal includes an upper-right lid portion to seal an inside of a triangle whose three sides are a right end of the first lip portion, a rear end of the upper-right seal lip, and a left end of the upper-right attachment plate. The upper-side attachment plate includes a mold removal hole to communicate with the hollow portion of the first seal lip. The second base end of the second lip portion of the first seal lip is separate from the upper-side attachment plate through the mold removal hole. An inner surface of the upper-left lid portion and an inner surface of the upper-right lid portion face the mold removal hole through the hollow portion.

This arrangement makes it possible to seal the inside of the triangle whose three sides are the left end of the first lip portion, the rear end of the upper-left seal lip, and the right end of the upper-left attachment plate by the upper-left lid portion. This arrangement makes it possible to seal the inside of the triangle whose three sides are the right end of the first lip portion, the rear end of the upper-right seal lip, and the left end of the upper-right attachment plate the upper-right lid portion. Therefore, the rigidity and sealability of the seal are improved.

Additionally, this arrangement makes it possible to easily remove a mold through the mold removal hole when the hollow first seal lip, the upper-left lid portion, and the upper-right lid portion are molded.

In an example embodiment, a boundary line between a left end of the first lip portion and the upper-left lid portion extends leftward with increasing distance rearwardly. A boundary line between the upper-left lid portion and the upper-left attachment plate extends leftward with increasing distance forwardly. A boundary line between a right end of the first lip portion and the upper-right lid portion extends rightward with increasing distance rearwardly. A boundary line between the upper-right lid portion and the upper-right attachment plate extends rightward with increasing distance forwardly.

With this arrangement, the boundary line between the upper-left lid portion and the upper-left seal lip is located at a more obliquely rightward position with increasing distance upwardly, and the boundary line between the upper-right lid portion and the upper-right seal lip is located at a more obliquely leftward position with increasing distance upwardly. Therefore, because of the presence of the boundary line between the upper-left lid portion and the upper-left seal lip, the upper-left seal lip is bent and deformed in the direction away from the diagonal center line from the base end to the front end.

Additionally, because of the presence of the boundary line between the upper-right lid portion and the upper-right seal lip, the upper-right seal lip is bent and deformed in the direction away from diagonal center line from the base end to the front end.

When the upper-side seal lip is bent and deformed in the direction approaching the diagonal center line, the upper-left seal lip and the upper-right seal lip are bent and deformed in the direction approaching the diagonal center line. At this time, the boundary lines between both the right and left sides serve as distinguishing lines, and enable the conversion of the direction in which the seal lip is bent and deformed to be easily performed, and it is possible to reduce or prevent disadvantageous deformation.

In an example embodiment, the outboard motor further includes a plurality of fasteners each of which fasten the base plate to the shroud. Each of at least the left-side attachment plate and the right-side attachment plate of the base plate includes a through-hole through which the corresponding fastener is inserted.

With this arrangement, at least the left-side attachment plate and the right-side attachment plate are able to be fastened to the shroud, and therefore the base plate of the seal is firmly fixed, and positional deviation of the seal does not easily occur, and a gap is not easily formed between the shroud and the base plate of the seal.

An example embodiment of the present invention provides a seal for an outboard motor including a shroud to cover an engine, and a cowl to cover the shroud from above. The shroud includes a shroud inclined surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. The cowl includes a cowl inclined surface facing the shroud inclined surface and inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The seal seals a space between a peripheral edge of a shroud opening provided in the shroud inclined surface and a peripheral edge of a cowl opening provided in the cowl inclined surface.

The seal for the outboard motor includes a base plate having a rectangular annular shape including a diagonal center line and a rectangular annular seal lip extending from the base plate and located around the diagonal center line. The base plate is configured to be fixed to the peripheral edge of the shroud opening. The base plate includes a first attachment plate, a second attachment plate, a third attachment plate, and a fourth attachment plate that are rectangularly arranged in order. The first attachment plate is located at a higher position than the third attachment plate when seen from a left-right direction.

The rectangular annular seal lip is configured to be elastically contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The rectangular annular seal lip includes a hollow first seal lip, a second seal lip, a third seal lip, and a fourth seal lip.

The first seal lip includes a first lip portion, a second lip portion, and a hollow portion between the first lip portion and the second lip portion. The first lip portion includes a first base end connected to the first attachment plate and a first front end. The second lip portion includes a second base end and a second front end. The second base end is located closer to the diagonal center line than the first lip portion and supported by the peripheral edge of the shroud opening. The second front end is connected to the first front end of the first lip portion. The first lip portion and the second lip portion have a chevron shape in cross-section that are inclined in mutually opposite directions. In an attached state to the outboard motor, the first lip portion defines a surface contact region that extends to the first front end from a halfway portion between the first base end and the first front end and that elastically contacts the peripheral edge of the cowl opening.

The second seal lip includes a base end connected to the second attachment plate and a front end configured to elastically contact the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The third seal lip includes a base end connected to the third attachment plate and a front end configured to elastically contact the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. The fourth seal lip includes a base end connected to the fourth attachment plate and a front end configured to elastically contact the peripheral edge of the cowl opening. Each of the second seal lip, the third seal lip, and the fourth seal lip recedes from the diagonal center line with increasing proximity to the front end corresponding to each lip from the base end corresponding to each lip.

With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a seal for an outboard motor capable of achieving high sealability by preventing disadvantageous deformation that occurs when the cowl is attached.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a rear portion of a vessel to which an outboard motor according to an example embodiment of the present invention has been attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the outboard motor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover has been detached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a cowl and a shroud, and an enlarged view of a cowl opening.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shroud to which a seal has been attached.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shroud.

FIG. 7 is a view of the seal seen from a front-end side of a seal lip.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line IX-IX in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line X-X in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along line XI-XI in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 12 is a view showing a positional relationship between the cowl and the seal that have not yet been attached, and which corresponds to FIG. 8 .

FIG. 13 is a view showing a positional relationship between the cowl and the seal that have already been attached, and which corresponds to FIG. 8 .

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following example embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention, products to which the present invention is applied, or usage of the products.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a rear portion of a vessel 200 to which an outboard motor 100 according to an example embodiment of the present invention has been attached. The left side of FIG. 1 is the front side of the outboard motor 100 , and the right side of FIG. 1 is the rear side of the outboard motor 100 . The upper side of FIG. 1 is the upper side of the outboard motor 100 , and the lower side of FIG. 1 is the lower side of the outboard motor 100 . An up-down direction is also a vertical direction. A direction perpendicular to the plane of paper of FIG. 1 is a left-right direction of the outboard motor 100 . In the following description, the leftward or rightward direction of the outboard motor 100 is determined based on when the outboard motor 100 is seen from the front side. Therefore, the near side in the direction perpendicular to the plane of paper of FIG. 1 is the right side of the outboard motor 100 , and the far side in the direction perpendicular to the plane of paper of FIG. 1 is the left side of the outboard motor 100 . An engine 101 is housed in an upper portion of the outboard motor 100 . On the other hand, in a lower portion of the outboard motor 100 , a propeller 103 that generates a thrust is rotatably supported by a propeller shaft 104 that extends in the front-rear direction. Power outputted from the engine 101 is transmitted to a drive shaft 105 that extends in the up-down direction inside the outboard motor 100 . The power that has been transmitted to the drive shaft 105 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 104 . Thus, the propeller 103 is driven by the engine 101 .

Additionally, the outboard motor 100 includes a shroud 140 (see FIG. 6 ) that covers the engine 101 , a cowl 110 that covers the shroud 140 from above, and a cover 120 that covers the upper side of the cowl 110 .

A portion, which houses the engine 101 , of the outboard motor 100 includes an engine room R 1 . This engine room R 1 is covered by the cowl 110 from above. The cover 120 that covers the cowl 110 from above is detachably attached to an upper portion of the cowl 110 as also shown in FIG. 2 .

The cowl 110 is provided with a cowl main body 111 as shown in FIG. 3 . The cowl main body 111 is provided with a peripheral wall 111 a and an upper wall 111 b at an upper portion of the peripheral wall 111 a . A front portion of the upper wall 111 b is an inclined wall 111 c that is forwardly and downwardly inclined such as to be located at a more downward position as it extends toward a front end. On the other hand, a rear portion of the upper wall 111 b extends in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction.

A cowl opening 114 through which heat of the engine 101 is discharged is located in the cowl 110 at a more leftward position than the inclined wall 111 c and at a lower position than the inclined wall 111 c , as shown in FIG. 4 . A size of the cowl opening 114 in the up-down direction is longer than the size in the left-right direction, and has a rectangular shape elongated in the up-down direction. The inclined wall 111 c is forwardly and downwardly inclined, and the cowl opening 114 is likewise forwardly and downwardly inclined to be located at a more downward position with increasing proximity to the front end.

The cowl 110 includes a cowl inclined plate 113 extending in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction on the leftward and downward sides of the inclined wall 111 c as shown in FIG. 4 . The cowl inclined plate 113 is forwardly and downwardly inclined to be located at a more downward position with increasing proximity to the front end. There is a case in which the inclination angle of the cowl inclined plate 113 is a little larger than the inclination angle of the inclined wall 111 c.

The cowl opening 114 having a rectangular shape so as to coincide with a shroud opening 143 (see FIG. 6 ) is provided in the cowl inclined plate 113 . The shroud opening 143 (described below) and the cowl opening 114 are substantially parallel to each other, and communicate with each other. A size of the cowl opening 114 in the up-down direction is longer than its size in the left-right direction, and has a rectangular shape elongated in the up-down direction. The cowl inclined plate 113 is forwardly and downwardly inclined, and therefore the cowl opening 114 and the shroud opening 143 (described later) are each likewise forwardly and downwardly inclined at a more downward position with increasing proximity to the front end.

The engine 101 housed in the engine room R 1 of the outboard motor 100 is covered by the shroud 140 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 from above. The shroud 140 is covered by the cowl 110 from above.

The shroud 140 is provided with a duct 141 that extends upwardly and through which exhaust heat is discharged and a shroud inclined plate 142 . The duct 141 is downwardly open, and hot air of the engine 101 is capable of flowing therethrough. The shroud inclined plate 142 is provided at an upper portion of the duct 141 . The shroud inclined plate 142 is spaced apart downwardly from the cowl inclined plate 113 . A shroud inclined surface that is an upper surface of the shroud inclined plate 142 and a cowl inclined surface that is a lower surface of the cowl inclined plate 113 face each other in the up-down direction, have substantially the same inclination angle, and are substantially parallel to each other.

The shroud opening 143 is provided in the shroud inclined surface of the shroud inclined plate 142 . The cowl opening 114 is provided in a portion, corresponding to the shroud opening 143 , of the cowl inclined surface of the cowl 110 . The outboard motor 100 includes a seal 10 that seals a space between a peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 and a peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 . The cowl opening 114 communicates with the shroud opening 143 through an internal space of the seal 10 . Therefore, the hot air of the engine 101 upwardly flows inside the duct 141 of the shroud 140 , and then passes through the shroud opening 143 , and is discharged from the cowl opening 114 to the outside of the cowl 110 (outside of the outboard motor 100 ).

The seal 10 seals a space between the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 and the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 such that rainwater or seawater that has entered from a gap between the cover 120 and the cowl 110 does not enter a space R 2 between an inner surface of the cowl 110 and an outer surface of the shroud 140 as shown in FIG. 5 . The seal 10 is made of an elastic material having rubbery properties. If the material of which the seal 10 is made is, for example, a rubber material, EPDM is applicable, and if the material of which the seal 10 is made is, for example, a thermoplastic resin material, TPO (thermoplastic elastomer olefin) or the like is applicable. Thus, the seal 10 is easily elastically deformed between the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 and the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 , and adhere closely to each member.

The shroud opening 143 has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 6 , and therefore the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 has an upper edge 143 a , a left edge 143 b , a lower edge 143 c , and a right edge 143 d . The upper edge 143 a and the lower edge 143 c extend in the left-right direction, and are parallel to each other. The left edge 143 b and the right edge 143 d extend in the up-down direction, and are parallel to each other. The length of the upper edge 143 a and the length of the lower edge 143 c are shorter than the length of the left edge 143 b and the length of the right edge 143 d.

An upper attachment surface 142 a , a left attachment surface 142 b , a lower attachment surface 142 c , and a right attachment surface 142 d are provided around the shroud opening 143 in the upper surface (shroud inclined surface) of the shroud inclined plate 142 as shown in FIG. 6 . The upper attachment surface 142 a extends in the left-right direction along the upper edge 143 a of the shroud opening 143 . The left attachment surface 142 b extends in the up-down (front-rear) direction along the left edge 143 b of the shroud opening 143 . The lower attachment surface 142 c extends in the left-right direction along the lower edge 143 c of the shroud opening 143 . The right attachment surface 142 d extends in the up-down (front-rear) direction along the right edge 143 d of the shroud opening 143 . An annular flat surface that surrounds the shroud opening 143 is defined by the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d.

The seal 10 includes a base plate BP that is fixed to the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 and has a rectangular annular shape having a diagonal center line 10 c and a rectangular annular seal lip SR that extends from the base plate BP and disposed around the diagonal center line 10 c . The outboard motor 100 includes a plurality of fasteners B that fasten the base plate BP to the shroud 140 . The base plate BP includes an upper-side attachment plate 11 a (first attachment plate), a left-side attachment plate 12 a (second attachment plate), a lower-side attachment plate 13 a (third attachment plate), and a right-side attachment plate 14 a (fourth attachment plate) that are arranged in a rectangular shape.

The rectangular annular seal lip SR elastically comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 . The rectangular annular seal lip SR includes a hollow upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip), a left-side seal lip 12 d (second seal lip), a lower-side seal lip 13 d (third seal lip), and a right-side seal lip 14 d (fourth seal lip). The upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip) extends from the upper-side attachment plate 11 a (first attachment plate). The left-side seal lip 12 d (second seal lip) extends from the left-side attachment plate 12 a (second attachment plate). The lower-side seal lip 13 d (third seal lip) extends from the lower-side attachment plate 13 a (third attachment plate). The right-side seal lip 14 d (fourth seal lip) extends from the right-side attachment plate 14 a (fourth attachment plate).

Additionally, the seal 10 includes an upper side portion 11 that includes the upper-side attachment plate 11 a and the upper-side seal lip 11 d . The seal 10 includes a left side portion 12 that includes the left-side attachment plate 12 a and the left-side seal lip 12 d . The seal 10 includes a lower side portion 13 that includes the lower-side attachment plate 13 a and the lower-side seal lip 13 d . The seal 10 includes a right side portion 14 that includes the right-side attachment plate 14 a and the right-side seal lip 14 d . The upper side portion 11 is disposed at a more rearward position and at a more upward position than the lower side portion 13 when seen from the left-right direction.

Additionally, the upper side portion 11 extends along the upper edge 143 a of the shroud opening 143 as shown in, for example, FIGS. 5 to 11 . The left side portion 12 extends along the left edge 143 b of the shroud opening 143 . The lower side portion 13 extends along the lower edge 143 c of the shroud opening 143 . The right side portion 14 extends along the right edge 143 d of the shroud opening 143 . The seal 10 has a rectangular annular shape including the upper side portion 11 , the left side portion 12 , the lower side portion 13 , and the right side portion 14 .

In more detail, the seal 10 includes an upper-left corner portion 15 between the upper side portion 11 and the left side portion 12 an upper-right corner portion 16 between the upper side portion 11 and the right side portion 14 as shown in FIG. 7 . Additionally, the seal 10 includes a lower-left corner portion 17 between the lower side portion 13 and the left side portion 12 and a lower-right corner portion 18 between the lower side portion 13 and the right side portion 14 . The seal 10 has a rectangular annular shape by consecutively arranging the upper side portion 11 , the upper-left corner portion 15 , the left side portion 12 , the lower-left corner portion 17 , the lower side portion 13 , the lower-right corner portion 18 , the right side portion 14 , and the upper-right corner portion 16 in order.

An extension line L 1 and an extension line L 8 are extension lines of a left end and a right end, respectively, of a first base end 11 e LE of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (see FIG. 8 ). Additionally, a boundary line L 2 is a boundary line between an upper end of the left side portion 12 and a lower end of the upper-left corner portion 15 , and a boundary line L 3 is a boundary line between a lower end of the left side portion 12 and an upper end of the lower-left corner portion 17 . Additionally, a boundary line L 4 is a boundary line between a left end of the lower side portion 13 and a right end of the lower-left corner portion 17 , and a boundary line L 5 is a boundary line between a right end of the lower side portion 13 and a left end of the lower-right corner portion 18 . Additionally, a boundary line L 6 is a boundary line between a lower end of the right side portion 14 and an upper end of the lower-right corner portion 18 , and a boundary line L 7 is a boundary line between an upper end of the right side portion 14 and a lower end of the upper-right corner portion 16 .

The upper side portion 11 , the upper-left corner portion 15 , the left side portion 12 , the lower-left corner portion 17 , the lower side portion 13 , the lower-right corner portion 18 , the right side portion 14 , and the upper-right corner portion 16 are molded integrally with each other. The upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a are attached to the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d , respectively, that are provided around the shroud opening 143 .

The upper-side attachment plate 11 a extends in the left-right direction along the upper attachment surface 142 a , such that its lower surface adheres closely to the upper attachment surface 142 a . The left-side attachment plate 12 a extends in the up-down (front-rear) direction along the left attachment surface 142 b , such that its lower surface adheres closely to the left attachment surface 142 b . The lower-side attachment plate 13 a extends in the left-right direction along the lower attachment surface 142 c , such that its lower surface adheres closely to the lower attachment surface 142 c . The right-side attachment plate 14 a extends in the up-down (front-rear) direction along the right attachment surface 142 d , such that its lower surface adheres closely to the right attachment surface 142 d.

The upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a are located within an annular same plane. In detail, the lower surface of the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the lower surface of the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower surface of the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the lower surface of the right-side attachment plate 14 a are located on the annular same plane defined by the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d that are provided around the shroud opening 143 shown in FIG. 6 . As a result, the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a are arranged such as to surround the shroud opening 143 in a state in which the seal 10 has been attached to the shroud inclined plate 142 .

Additionally, in more detail, from the foregoing description, the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the upper-left attachment plate 15 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-left attachment plate 17 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , the lower-right attachment plate 18 a , the right-side attachment plate 14 a , and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a are likewise located such as to define an annular same plane and to be consecutively arranged in order as shown in FIG. 7 . The upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the upper-left attachment plate 15 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-left attachment plate 17 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , the lower-right attachment plate 18 a , the right-side attachment plate 14 a , and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a are located on a same plane defined by the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 as shown in FIG. 6 . This same plane is a flat surface including the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d . As a result, the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the upper-left attachment plate 15 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-left attachment plate 17 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , the lower-right attachment plate 18 a , the right-side attachment plate 14 a , and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a are arranged to surround the shroud opening 143 in a state in which the seal 10 has been attached to the shroud inclined plate 142 .

Additionally, a left through-hole 12 b into which a fastener B (shown in FIG. 5 ) to fasten the left-side attachment plate 12 a to the shroud 140 is inserted is provided in the left-side attachment plate 12 a as shown in FIG. 7 . The left through-hole 12 b passes through the left-side attachment plate 12 a in a thickness direction.

Additionally, a right through-hole 14 b into which the fastener B to fasten the right-side attachment plate 14 a to the shroud 140 is inserted is provided in the right-side attachment plate 14 a in the same way as on the left side.

Additionally, an upper-left through-hole 15 b , an upper-right through-hole 16 b , a lower-left through-hole 17 b , and a lower-right through-hole 18 b into each of which the fastener B is inserted are provided in the upper-left corner portion 15 , the upper-right corner portion 16 , the lower-left corner portion 17 , and the lower-right corner portion 18 , respectively. The fastener B is, for example, a vis, a screw, a clip, or the like.

Six screw holes 142 e are provided in the shroud inclined plate 142 so as to correspond to the left through-hole 12 b , the right through-hole 14 b , the upper-left through-hole 15 b , the upper-right through-hole 16 b , the lower-left through-hole 17 b , and the lower-right through-hole 18 b of the seal 10 as shown in FIG. 6 . The fastener B is inserted into the left through-hole 12 b , the right through-hole 14 b , the upper-left through-hole 15 b , the upper-right through-hole 16 b , the lower-left through-hole 17 b , and the lower-right through-hole 18 b of the seal 10 , and is then screwed into a screw hole 142 e , thus making it possible to fasten and fix the seal 10 to the shroud inclined plate 142 . It should be noted that the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a may be fixed to the shroud inclined plate 142 by, for example, a double-sided tape or the like.

A lock portion 11 c that downwardly protrudes and extends in the left-right direction is provided at an upper (rear) edge portion of the upper-side attachment plate 11 a as also shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 . On the other hand, the shroud 140 includes a lock surface 142 f that intersects the upper attachment surface 142 a . The lock surface 142 f is a lengthwise diagonal surface intersecting an upper edge of the upper attachment surface 142 a . The lock portion 11 c is locked on the lock surface 142 f in a state in which the base plate BP of the seal 10 has been attached to the shroud inclined plate 142 . In more detail, an L-shaped part including the upper-side attachment plate 11 a and the lock portion 11 c is locked by an L-shaped part including the upper attachment surface 142 a and the lock surface 142 f.

Additionally, the left-side seal lip 12 d that protrudes upwardly and is curved to be at a more leftward position as it extends toward the front end is provided at a right end of the left-side attachment plate 12 a as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 . The left-side seal lip 12 d extends while curving leftwardly, and therefore the left-side seal lip 12 d faces a left edge 114 b of the cowl opening 114 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 . When the cowl 110 is attached, at least a front end 12 d UE (upper end) of the left-side seal lip 12 d elastically comes into contact with the left edge 114 b of the cowl opening 114 and its vicinity.

Additionally, the lower-side seal lip 13 d that protrudes forwardly and is curved to be at a more forward position with increasing proximity to the front end is provided at an upper end of the lower-side attachment plate 13 a as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 10 . The lower-side seal lip 13 d extends while curving forwardly, and therefore the lower-side seal lip 13 d faces a lower edge 114 c of the cowl opening 114 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 . When the cowl 110 is attached, at least a front end 13 d FE (forward end) of the lower-side seal lip 13 d elastically comes into contact with the lower edge 114 c of the cowl opening 114 and its vicinity.

Additionally, the right-side seal lip 14 d that protrudes upwardly and is curved to be at a more rightward position with increasing proximity to the front end is provided at a left end of the right-side attachment plate 14 a as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 11 . The right-side seal lip 14 d extends while curving rightwardly, and therefore the right-side seal lip 14 d faces a right edge 114 d of the cowl opening 114 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 . When the cowl 110 is attached, at least a front end 14 d UE (upper end) of the right-side seal lip 14 d elastically comes into contact with the right edge 114 d of the cowl opening 114 and its vicinity.

Additionally, the upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip) includes the first lip portion 11 e , a second lip portion 11 f , and a hollow portion HS between the first lip portion 11 e and the second lip portion 11 f as shown in FIG. 8 . The first lip portion 11 e includes the first base end 11 e LE (lower end) connected to the upper-side attachment plate 11 a (first attachment plate) and a first front end 11 e UE (upper end). The second lip portion 11 f includes a second base end 11 f LE (lower end) and a second front end 11 f UE (upper end). The second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f is located closer to the diagonal center line 10 c (see FIG. 7 ) than the first lip portion 11 e , and is supported by the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 . The second front end 11 f UE of the second lip portion 11 f is connected to the first front end 11 e UE of the first lip portion 11 e . The first lip portion 11 e and the second lip portion 11 f have a chevron shape in cross-section that are inclined in mutually opposite directions in a free state. A top portion 11 d UE of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip) being in a free state is defined by the first front end 11 e UE of the first lip portion 11 e and the second front end 11 f UE of the second lip portion 11 f that are connected together.

In a state in which the cowl 110 has been attached as shown in FIG. 9 , the first lip portion 11 e additionally includes a surface contact region PCA that extends to the first front end 11 e UE from a halfway portion between the first base end 11 e LE and the first front end 11 e UE and that elastically comes into surface contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 . The first lip portion 11 e and the second lip portion 11 f are bent and deformed such that the hollow portion HS has a rectangular shape in cross-section.

Additionally, the upper-side attachment plate 11 a is directly connected to the first base end 11 e LE of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d as shown in FIG. 8 . The upper-side attachment plate 11 a is not directly connected to the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d . The second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f is separated from the upper-side attachment plate 11 a.

The first lip portion 11 e protrudes toward an upper edge 114 a of the cowl opening 114 from the lower end (front end) of the upper-side attachment plate 11 a . The second lip portion 11 f protrudes toward the upper edge 114 a of the cowl opening 114 from the second base end 11 f LE that is in contact with and supported by the upper attachment surface 142 a of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 , and the second lip portion 11 f extends to the second front end 11 f UE.

The distance between the first lip portion 11 e and the second lip portion 11 f that have a chevron shape in cross-section in a free state becomes wider with increasing proximity to the upper attachment surface 142 a . The second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f orthogonally presses the shroud inclined surface, and is in contact with the shroud inclined surface. In detail, the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f is brought into contact with and orthogonally presses the upper attachment surface 142 a provided around the shroud opening 143 .

The upper attachment surface 142 a includes a step 142 g that locks the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d . In a state in which the base plate BP of the seal 10 has been attached to the shroud inclined plate 142 , the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d comes into contact with the step 142 g from above (from behind) and is locked.

Additionally, the surface contact region PCA of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the front end 12 d UE of the left-side seal lip 12 d (upper end, see FIG. 9 ), the front end 13 d FE of the lower-side seal lip 13 d (front end, see FIG. 10 ), and the front end 14 d UE of the right-side seal lip 14 d (upper end, see FIG. 11 ) are located on a same plane defined by the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 12 .

Additionally, the peripheral edge including the upper edge 114 a , the left edge 114 b , the lower edge 114 c , and the right edge 114 d that are provided around the cowl opening 114 define an annular plane as shown in FIG. 4 . In other words, when the cowl 110 is attached, the surface contact region PCA of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (see FIG. 13 ), the front end 12 d UE of the left-side seal lip 12 d (upper end, see FIG. 9 ), the front end 13 d FE of the lower-side seal lip 13 d (front end, see FIG. 10 ), and the front end 14 d UE of the right-side seal lip 14 d (upper end, see FIG. 11 ) are located on the plane defined by the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 .

Additionally, the rectangular annular seal lip SR includes an upper-left seal lip 15 d between the upper-side seal lip 11 d and the left-side seal lip 12 d and an upper-right seal lip 16 d between the upper-side seal lip 11 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d as shown in FIG. 7 . Additionally, the rectangular annular seal lip SR includes a lower-left seal lip 17 d between the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the left-side seal lip 12 d and a lower-right seal lip 18 d between the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d . Additionally, the base plate BP includes the upper-left attachment plate 15 a between the upper-side attachment plate 11 a and the left-side attachment plate 12 a and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a between the upper-side attachment plate 11 a and the right-side attachment plate 14 a . Additionally, the base plate BP includes the lower-left attachment plate 17 a between the lower-side attachment plate 13 a and the left-side attachment plate 12 a and the lower-right attachment plate 18 a between the lower-side attachment plate 13 a and the right-side attachment plate 14 a . The upper-left seal lip 15 d , the upper-right seal lip 16 d , the lower-left seal lip 17 d , and the lower-right seal lip 18 d protrude toward the cowl opening 114 , respectively.

The upper-left seal lip 15 d includes a base end 15 d LE that is located on the upper-left attachment plate 15 a and has an “r” shape (i.e., a curved or rounded shape) and a front end 15 d UE. The upper-left seal lip 15 d has a curved shape that extends away from the diagonal center line 10 c with increasing proximity to the front end 15 d UE from the base end 15 d LE. The upper-right seal lip 16 d includes a base end 16 d LE that is located on the upper-right attachment plate 16 a and that has an r shape and a front end 16 d UE. The upper-right seal lip 16 d has a curved shape that the extends away from the diagonal center line 10 c with increasing proximity to the front end 16 d UE from the base end 16 d LE.

The lower-left seal lip 17 d includes a base end 17 d LE that is located on the lower-left attachment plate 17 a and has an r shape and a front end 17 d UE. The lower-left seal lip 17 d has a curved shape that extends away from the diagonal center line 10 c with increasing proximity to the front end 17 d UE from the base end 17 d LE. The lower-right seal lip 18 d includes a base end 18 d LE that is located on the lower-right attachment plate 18 a and has an r shape and a front end 18 d UE. The lower-right seal lip 18 d has a curved shape increasingly deviating from the diagonal center line 10 c with increasing proximity to the front end 18 d UE from the base end 18 d LE.

The base end 15 d LE of the upper-left seal lip 15 d has an r shape that connects a linear first base end 11 e LE of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d and a linear base end 12 d LE of the left-side seal lip 12 d together. The base end 16 d LE of the upper-right seal lip 16 d has an r shape that connects the linear first base end 11 e LE of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d and a linear base end 14 d LE of the right-side seal lip 14 d together. The base end 17 d LE of the lower-left seal lip 17 d has an r shape that connects a linear base end 13 d LE of the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the linear base end 12 d LE of the left-side seal lip 12 d together. The base end 18 d LE of the lower-right seal lip 18 d has an r shape that connects the linear base end 13 d LE of the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the base end 14 d LE of the right-side seal lip 14 d together. The front end 17 d UE of the lower-left seal lip 17 d has an r shape that is substantially concentric with the r shape of the base end 17 d LE. The front end 18 d UE of the lower-right seal lip 18 d has an r shape that is substantially concentric with the r shape of the base end.

Additionally, the seal 10 includes a triangular upper-left lid portion 15 f that seals the inside of a triangle whose three sides are the left end of the first lip portion 11 e , the rear end of the upper-left seal lip 15 d , and the right end of the upper-left attachment plate 15 a as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 14 . Additionally, the seal 10 includes a triangular upper-right lid portion 16 f that seals the inside of a triangle whose three sides are the right end of the first lip portion 11 e , the rear end of the upper-right seal lip 16 d , and the left end of the upper-right attachment plate 16 a . As has been described with reference to FIG. 8 , the upper-side attachment plate 11 a is not directly connected to the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip). The second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f is separated from the upper-side attachment plate 11 a . The upper-side attachment plate 11 a includes a die-cut hole NH that communicates with the hollow portion HS of the upper-side seal lip 11 d . An inner surface of the upper-left lid portion 15 f and an inner surface of the upper-right lid portion 16 f face the die-cut hole NH through the hollow portion HS.

Additionally, a boundary line L 9 between the left end of the first lip portion 11 e and the upper-left lid portion 15 f is located at a more leftward position extending rearwardly as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 14 . A boundary line L 10 between the upper-left lid portion 15 f and the upper-left attachment plate 15 a is located at a more leftward position extending forwardly. A boundary line L 12 between the right end of the first lip portion 11 e and the upper-right lid portion 16 f is located at a more rightward position extending rearwardly. A boundary line L 13 between the upper-right lid portion 16 f and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a is located at a more rightward position extending forwardly.

Additionally, as has been described with reference to FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 , the through-holes 12 b and 14 b into each of which the fastener B to fasten the attachment plates to the shroud 140 is inserted are provided in the left-side attachment plate 12 a and the right-side attachment plate 14 a , respectively.

Still additionally, the through-holes 15 b , 16 b , 17 b , and 18 b into each of which the fastener B is inserted may also be provided in the upper-left attachment plate 15 a , the upper-right attachment plate 16 a , the lower-left attachment plate 17 a , and the lower-right attachment plate 18 a , respectively.

According to the above example embodiments, as described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 , the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a of the base plate BP of the seal 10 are attached to the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d , respectively, that have been provided around the shroud opening 143 . The shroud opening 143 is provided in the shroud inclined plate 142 , and therefore the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d are located such that each lip takes an inclined attitude.

When the cowl 110 is attached in this state, the cowl 110 is located above the shroud 140 , and is then moved in the direction of an arrow C as shown in FIG. 12 . At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 , the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d are inclined in mutually different directions. The moving direction of the cowl 110 differs from the directions in which the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d extend.

In detail, if attention is focused on the cowl inclined plate 113 of an inside member 112 , the seal 10 is fixed to the shroud 140 when the cowl 110 is attached as shown in FIG. 12 , and therefore the cowl inclined plate 113 is moved relatively with respect to the seal 10 in the direction of the arrow C.

The left-side seal lip 12 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d of the seal 10 protrude while curving leftwardly and rightwardly, respectively. Therefore, even if the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C is slidably brought into contact with the left-side seal lip 12 d and with the right-side seal lip 14 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d will be bent and deformed leftwardly and rightwardly (i.e., in directions of an arrow O that are directions receding from the center), respectively. Disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur.

Additionally, the lower-side seal lip 13 d protrudes while curving forwardly, and therefore even if the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C is slidably brought into contact with the lower-side seal lip 13 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d will be bent and deformed forwardly (i.e., in the direction of the arrow O that a direction receding from the center). Therefore, disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur.

On the other hand, as shown by the broken line of FIG. 12 , the cowl inclined plate 113 is brought into contact with the second front end 11 f UE (upper end) of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d when a state is reached in which the cowl 110 has been attached. At this time, in the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d , its second front end 11 f UE (upper end) is supported by the first lip portion 11 e as shown in FIG. 13 . Although the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d is bent and deformed forwardly (i.e., in the direction of an arrow I that is a direction approaching the center), disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur in the second lip portion 11 f , thus enabling the second lip portion 11 f to closely adhere to the cowl inclined plate 113 .

In other words, the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip) is bent and deformed in a state of being supported by the second lip portion 11 f . A portion, which extends to the first front end 11 e UE from a halfway portion between the first front end 11 e UE and the first base end 11 e LE, of the first lip portion 11 e defines the surface contact region PCA that elastically comes into surface contact with the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce or prevent the occurrence of disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high sealability.

Therefore, the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d are all, as intended, enabled to elastically come into contact with the upper edge, the left edge, the lower edge, and the right edge provided around the cowl opening 114 . In more detail, only the upper-side seal lip 11 d is bent and deformed in a direction (direction of the arrow I) approaching the diagonal center line 10 c of the seal 10 as shown in FIG. 7 . Additionally, the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d excluding the upper-side seal lip 11 d are each bent and deformed in a direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the diagonal center line 10 c of the seal 10 .

This enables the upper-side seal lip 11 d to maintain high sealability and improve durability without the occurrence of disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up. Additionally, the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d (first seal lip) is brought into contact with and orthogonally presses the shroud inclined surface (upper attachment surface 142 a ). The shroud inclined surface (upper attachment surface 142 a ) includes the tier 142 g that locks the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f . This arrangement makes it possible to increase the effect of allowing the second lip portion 11 f to support the first lip portion 11 e . Therefore, it is possible to achieve an excellent surface-contact state of the surface contact region PCA of the first lip portion 11 e , and is possible to further increase sealability.

Additionally, the surface contact region PCA of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the front end 12 d UE of the left-side seal lip 12 d , the front end 13 d FE of the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the front end 14 d UE of the right-side seal lip 14 d are located on the same plane defined by the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 . This arrangement enables the upper-side seal lip 11 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d to closely adhere to the peripheral edge of the cowl opening 114 without gaps, thus enabling these lips to increase sealability.

In the above example embodiments, the structure described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 13 is used. Therefore, when the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C slidably comes into contact with the upper-left seal lip 15 d , a portion, which is close to the upper-side seal lip 11 d , of the upper-left seal lip 15 d is rearwardly bent and deformed. On the other hand, the bent direction changes such that the upper-left seal lip 15 d is bent and deformed leftwardly gradually with increasing proximity to the left-side seal lip 12 d . Each portion of the upper-left seal lip 15 d is also bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

When the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C slidably comes into contact with the upper-right seal lip 16 d , a portion, which is close to the upper-side seal lip 11 d , of the upper-right seal lip 16 d is rearwardly bent and deformed. The bent direction changes such that the upper-right seal lip 16 d is bent and deformed rightwardly gradually with increasing proximity to the right-side seal lip 14 d . Each portion of the upper-right seal lip 16 d is also bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

When the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C slidably comes into contact with the lower-left seal lip 17 d , a portion, which is close to the lower-side seal lip 13 d , of the lower-left seal lip 17 d is forwardly bent and deformed. On the other hand, the bent direction changes such that the lower-left seal lip 17 d is bent and deformed leftwardly gradually with increasing proximity to the left-side seal lip 12 d . Each portion of the lower-left seal lip 17 d is also bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

When the cowl inclined plate 113 moving in the direction of the arrow C slidably comes into contact with the lower-right seal lip 18 d , a portion, which is close to the lower-side seal lip 13 d , of the lower-right seal lip 18 d is forwardly bent and deformed. On the other hand, the bent direction changes such that the lower-right seal lip 18 d is bent and deformed rightwardly gradually with increasing proximity to the right-side seal lip 14 d . Each portion of the lower-right seal lip 18 d is also bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

Additionally, as has been described with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , and the right-side seal lip 14 d are each bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

That is, only the upper-side seal lip 11 d is bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow I) approaching the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 as shown in FIG. 7 . The upper-left seal lip 15 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-left seal lip 17 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , the lower-right seal lip 18 d , the right-side seal lip 14 d , and the upper-right seal lip 16 d excluding the upper-side seal lip 11 d are each bent and deformed in the direction (direction of the arrow O) away from the center (diagonal center line 10 c ) of the seal 10 .

Additionally, the shroud 140 includes the lock surface 142 f intersecting the upper attachment surface 142 a . The seal 10 includes the lock portion 11 c that protrudes from the upper-side attachment plate 11 a and is locked on the lock surface 142 f . This arrangement makes it possible to reduce or prevent a positional deviation of the first base end 11 e LE of the first lip portion 11 e of the upper-side seal lip 11 d when the cowl 110 is attached. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an excellent surface-contact state of the surface contact region PCA of the first lip portion 11 e , and is possible to increase sealability.

Additionally, the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a are located on the same plane defined by the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 . This arrangement enables the upper-side attachment plate 11 a , the left-side attachment plate 12 a , the lower-side attachment plate 13 a , and the right-side attachment plate 14 a of the base plate BP of the seal 10 to closely adhere to the upper attachment surface 142 a , the left attachment surface 142 b , the lower attachment surface 142 c , and the right attachment surface 142 d , respectively, of the peripheral edge of the shroud opening 143 without gaps, thus enabling these plates to increase sealability.

Additionally, the seal 10 further includes the upper-left corner portion 15 between the upper side portion 11 and the left side portion 12 , the upper-right corner portion 16 between the upper side portion 11 and the right side portion 14 , the lower-left corner portion 17 between the lower side portion 13 and the left side portion 12 , and the lower-right corner portion 18 between the lower side portion 13 and the right side portion 14 . In this case, it is possible to provide the upper side portion 11 , the upper-left corner portion 15 , the left side portion 12 , the lower-left corner portion 17 , the lower side portion 13 , the lower-right corner portion 18 , the right side portion 14 , and the upper-right corner portion 16 to have a rectangular annular shape by consecutively arranging these portions in order.

Additionally, the rectangular annular seal lip SR further includes the upper-left seal lip 15 d between the upper-side seal lip 11 d and the left-side seal lip 12 d , the upper-right seal lip 16 d between the upper-side seal lip 11 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d , the lower-left seal lip 17 d between the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the left-side seal lip 12 d , and the lower-right seal lip 18 d between the lower-side seal lip 13 d and the right-side seal lip 14 d.

The upper-left seal lip 15 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-left seal lip 17 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , the lower-right seal lip 18 d , the right-side seal lip 14 d , and the upper-right seal lip 16 d are each bent and deformed in the direction away from the diagonal center line 10 c . In other words, conventional disadvantageous deformation, such as turn-up, does not occur in the upper-left seal lip 15 d , the left-side seal lip 12 d , the lower-left seal lip 17 d , the lower-side seal lip 13 d , the lower-right seal lip 18 d , the right-side seal lip 14 d , and the upper-right seal lip 16 d . Particularly, the front end 17 d UE of the lower-left seal lip 17 d and the front end 18 d UE of the lower-right seal lip 18 d include r shapes that are concentric with the r shapes of the base ends 17 d LE and 18 d LE corresponding to the front ends 17 d UE and 18 d UE, respectively, thus enabling the lower-left seal lip 17 d and the lower-right seal lip 18 d to be excellently deformed.

According to the above example embodiments, as has been described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 14 , it is possible to seal the inside of the triangle whose three sides are the left end of the first lip portion 11 e , the rear end of the upper-left seal lip 15 d , and the right end of the upper-left attachment plate 15 a by the upper-left lid portion 15 f . It is possible to seal the inside of the triangle whose three sides are the right end of the first lip portion 11 e , the rear end of the upper-right seal lip 16 d , and the left end of the upper-right attachment plate 16 a by the upper-right lid portion 16 f . Therefore, the rigidity and sealability of the seal 10 are improved, and the external appearance of the seal 10 is also improved.

According to the above example embodiments, as have been described with reference to FIG. 8 , the die-cut hole NH that communicates with the hollow portion HS is provided in the upper-side attachment plate 11 a . The upper-side attachment plate 11 a and the second base end 11 f LE of the second lip portion 11 f of the upper-side seal lip 11 d are separated from each other through the die-cut hole NH. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform die cutting through the die-cut hole NH after molding the first lip portion 11 e of the hollow upper-side seal lip 11 d and the second lip portion 11 f . Additionally, the inner surface of the upper-left lid portion 15 f and the inner surface of the upper-right lid portion 16 f face the die-cut hole NH through the hollow portion HS. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform die cutting after molding the first lip portion 11 e , the second lip portion 11 f , the upper-left lid portion 15 f , and the upper-right lid portion 16 f.

Additionally, the left end of the first lip portion 11 e and the boundary line L 9 of the upper-left lid portion 15 f are located at a more leftward position extending rearwardly as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 14 . The boundary line L 10 between the upper-left lid portion 15 f and the upper-left attachment plate 15 a is located at a more leftward position extending forwardly.

The boundary line L 12 between the right end of the first lip portion 11 e and the upper-right lid portion 16 f is located at a more rightward position extending rearwardly. The boundary line L 13 between the upper-right lid portion 16 f and the upper-right attachment plate 16 a is located at a more rightward position extending forwardly.

With this arrangement, a boundary line L 11 between the upper-left lid portion 15 f and the upper-left seal lip 15 d is located at a more obliquely rightward position extending upwardly. A boundary line L 14 between the upper-right lid portion 16 f and the upper-right seal lip 16 d is located at a more obliquely leftward position extending upwardly. Therefore, because of the presence of the boundary line L 11 between the upper-left lid portion 15 f and the upper-left seal lip 15 d , the upper-left seal lip 15 d is bent and deformed in the direction away from the diagonal center line 10 c from the base end to the front end. Additionally, because of the presence of the boundary line L 14 between the upper-right lid portion 16 f and the upper-right seal lip 16 d , the upper-right seal lip 16 d is bent and deformed in the direction away from diagonal center line 10 c from the base end to the front end.

When the upper-side seal lip 11 d is bent and deformed in the direction approaching the diagonal center line 10 c , the upper-left seal lip 15 d and the upper-right seal lip 16 d are bent and deformed in the direction approaching the diagonal center line 10 c . At this time, the boundary lines L 10 , L 9 ; L 12 , L 13 between both the right and left sides serve as distinguishing lines, and enable the conversion of the direction in which the seal lip is bent and deformed to be easily performed, and it is possible to reduce or prevent disadvantageous deformation.

According to the above example embodiments, the left-side attachment plate 12 a and the right-side attachment plate 14 a are able to be fastened to the shroud 140 as has been described with reference to FIG. 7 , and therefore the seal 10 is firmly fixed, and positional deviation does not easily occur, and a gap is not easily formed between the shroud 140 and the seal 10 .

The aforementioned example embodiments are merely examples in all respects, and should not be restrictively interpreted. Furthermore, variations or changes that belong to the range of equivalency of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention. Although not shown, the present invention is also applicable to a case in which, for example, the shroud opening and the cowl opening are each provided as an opening for intake air of the engine 101 . Additionally, the diagonal center line 10 c may be leftwardly inclined in the upward direction when seen from the front. Additionally, the diagonal center line 10 c may be rightwardly inclined in the upward direction when seen from the front. Additionally, the diagonal center line 10 c may be along the up-down direction when seen from the front.

While example embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.